“The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD today (Wednesday) held a half-day forum in Dublin’s Iveagh House on the proposed Exchequer-Employer investment mechanism for Higher Education and Further Education and Training …” (more)

“The Cork Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) swooped on Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) yesterday in the wake of a spate of suspected crow attacks on college grounds in recent days. Up to 20 people reported being attacked by crows near the staff car park. Two people needed medical treatment, including tetanus jabs, after the aerial assaults …” (more)

“Provost Patrick Prendergast has stated the College’s plans to ‘surmount’ the multitude of challenges posed by the UK’s exit from the EU and affirmed its hope that higher, non-EU fees would not be introduced for British and Northern Irish students …” (more)

“Tibor Navracsics is the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport. Today he tweeted this: ‘Most of today’s children will have jobs that don’t yet exist. Soft skills are vital in enabling them to succeed in the labour market and life’ …” (more)

“Micheline has resolved to repeat her grandmother, Hannah Sheehy Skeffington’s, epic tour of the U.S in this its anniversary year. Her principal motive is to try to get Hanna the recognition she deserves for what she did …” (more)

“This ballot concerns the proposed TUI, DES and THEA Agreement, May 2017, on Technological Universities. If members vote to accept the proposed agreement, the current industrial action (that is, not to cooperate with any merger activities relating to the proposed Technological Universities) will be suspended …” (more)

“The government has asked public servants to pay more for their pensions but will refund pay cuts imposed under emergency legislation in a new deal. Sources at talks on a deal to extend the Lansdowne Road Agreement said government officials said they would convert a €720m pension levy already being paid into a higher permanent contribution …” (more)

“College bosses are in a flap after a spate of vicious crow attacks on campus grounds. It’s not quite as gory as Hitchcock’s 1963-film horror The Birds, but up to 20 people working or studying at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) have reported being attacked by a lone crow in recent days …” (more)

“Top radio presenter Joe Duffy has claimed that Trinity College still ‘hates him’ from his days as a student activist. His remarks were made after the university wouldn’t let him film a show on campus …” (more)

“An American anti-poaching and conservation group has offered a €4,000 reward for information leading to the identification of two men who threw a dead dolphin out a window during a party at a student apartment complex in Cork …” (more)

“A quick look through the DSE inspectorate reports shows that the popularity of discovery learning is showing no signs of disappearing. One inspection report from March mentions discovery learning twice, recommending that science teachers ‘should increase the emphasis on discovery learning’ …” (more)

“Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), an internationally-renowned institute for basic research and scholarship, has appointed Dr Eucharia Meehan as its new registrar and chief executive. She was director of the Irish Research Council since it was established in 2012 …” (more)

“It is surprisingly difficult to get a consistent picture of university income in Ireland over the last decade. Accounting conventions have changed, as have the requirements from the Higher Education Authority in terms of detail. Finally, despite it being half way through 2017 it seems some, many, universities have not managed to get their 2016 or even 2015 accounts up and out …” (more)

“Students from the Republic are facing potential massive university fee increases after the UK withdraws from the EU. The head of Queen’s University Belfast said EU undergraduates could be charged pricier international tuition fees post-Brexit …” (more)

“The Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has warned that Ireland’s focus on attracting increasing numbers of foreign students is threatened by the lack of suitable accommodation. Dr Graham Love, CEO of the HEA, said that there was a shortage of accommodation in Dublin and most other large urban areas …” (more)

“In November 2016, Provost Patrick Prendergast, in a room full of academics at the prestigious Royal Irish Academy, raised an issue that is central to the future of Irish universities but seldom publicly discussed. To the former Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland, Prendergast questioned levels of state regulation given the falling levels of state funding: ‘Can we continue with the current oversight model?’ …” (more)

“The recent Prime Time revelations regarding some universities in Ireland highlight the need for more regulatory oversight but responsibility for the current lack of oversight rests firmly with Minister Richard Bruton. ‘In two significant areas he has failed to act to ensure greater compliance during his term as Minister for Education and Skills …'” (more)

“Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick City has said that following the revelations contained in this week’s RTÉ Investigates broadcast which centred on whistle blowing in UL, the two employees who are currently suspended from their roles should be reinstated as soon as possible …” (more)

“The National College of Ireland (NCI) is looking to secure Government funding to build a second campus in Dublin city centre. The college wants to double its spaces in computer and IT courses to address a skills shortage in the capital’s financial and tech sectors. NCI is seeking to purchase land near the IFSC and develop a multimillion 10,000 sq m campus to take on 1,500 new students in the short-term …” (more)

“Third-level bosses face a severe grilling by TDs over gaps in their evidence to the Dáil Public Accounts Committee about financial affairs. The PAC is seeking legal advice about its powers in relation to what it believes was misleading evidence to it, including details about severance payments to two former staff at University of Limerick, who were rehired on a consultancy basis …” (more)